February 26th, 2024 by WCBC Radio
The Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development today announced the launch of the Office of Statewide Broadband’s new Maryland Broadband Hub. The online Hub provides access to mapping viewers and links resources for Maryland residents and broadband providers to learn about how Maryland is analyzing data and existing broadband service to plan for increased service and broadband expansion, as required by Maryland Senate Bill 66.
The Hub includes three main components—the Maryland Broadband Explorer, the Data Collection Compare Tool, and a Grant Awards Dashboard—as well as additional resources and frequently asked questions for Marylanders to better understand the State’s plans to close the digital divide. As of February 2024, 98% of Marylanders have access to broadband internet.
The Maryland Broadband Explorer allows viewers to see broadband availability in Maryland and search broadband service at specific addresses. Each census block is populated with the name of the internet service provider and the type of service at the location.
The Data Collection Tool compares data from the Maryland Broadband Explorer and the Federal Communications Commission’s National Broadband Map. The Maryland Broadband Explorer collects only wireline data, which includes cable and fiber, and the National Broadband Map includes both wireline and wireless data, which is from mobile and satellite service.
The Grant Awards Dashboard shows where the Office of Statewide Broadband is or has supported broadband expansion efforts across the state, as well as detailed information on grants awarded and the progress of awarded projects.
